Showing off Rudy Gobert’s insane rebounding skills. The Minnesota Timberwolves will next be seen preparing to defend their home court against the Golden State Warriors this Thursday. Through their five meetings this season, Gobert has obviously dominated the glass. He’s pulled down 11 or more rebounds in three of those games. With Stephen Curry out, many analysts expect Gobert to have his biggest impact ever going up against the Warriors’ old school bigs.
Gobert’s play this season has proven him to be a per-minute matchup nightmare for the Warriors. Going up against smaller lineups, he excels, making defensive adjustments that create advantages for his team on the other end. We can tell pretty easily that he really knows how to grab a rebound, as we see in his games over 30 minutes. In these games, Gobert has gone over 10.5 rebounds in 80% of the games. While playing 42 minutes per game, he averages an insane 14.0 rebound opportunities.
Gobert’s Historical Performance Against the Warriors
In the Western Conference semifinals against Golden State, Gobert’s impact has been crucial. Even though his Game 1 minutes were variety punishment for the stat line, he still was able to snatch 11 rebounds in 26 minutes. This performance raises questions about his potential output in Thursday’s matchup, especially considering the Warriors’ current lineup adjustments. In the past, he’s been a brutal matchup for the overmatched Warriors. Combined with his elite ability to finish at the rim and shoot from deep, he can be a real weapon as a scorer.
The biggest worry coming into this series was Gobert’s capacity to remain on the floor. Fans were concerned, for instance, about his lack of effectiveness through defensive switches. His recent displays provide ample proof he has adjusted successfully. If you watch the Timberwolves’ gameplan against the Warriors, his name will be the most common word you hear in that defense.
The Impact of Stephen Curry’s Absence
With Stephen Curry out of the lineup, the Timberwolves will likely be on the other end of that tactical advantage. The lack of this central actor drives up the costs of the game. It especially hurts the Warriors’ spacing and shot selection too. This adjustment allows Gobert to focus more on his rebounding. He can now do so without the added pressure of having to match Curry’s offensive firepower.
So analysts are eager to track how this element factors into Gobert’s performance. His size and skill that accompany that size should make him an absolute force erasing anything that penetrates the lane. This ability to control discouraged Minnesota’s collapse on defense against Golden State.
Betting Insights and Predictions
Given Gobert’s track record this season and his historical success against the Warriors, many experts consider a bet on him to exceed 10.5 rebounds as one of the standout wagers for Thursday’s game. The data does support this prediction. It just highlights all the things we know—like that Gobert just controls the glass as a one-man gang if he’s out there long enough.
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